Valve structure



` Feb. 23 1926,

A. F. MEYER VALVE STRUCTURE Filed June 20, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 23 1926. 1,573,985

A. F. MEYER VALVE STRUCTURE Filed e 2O 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 MJ Afro/wey.:

UN'EED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

ADOLPHF. MEYER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

VALVE STRUCTURE.

Application led June 20, 1921. Serial No. 479,080.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, Anoiirrr F. Merian. 1. citizen of the United States, resident of St. Paul, Ramsey County, tate of lvlinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Tv/*alve Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in valve structures for the control of iiuid flow and pressure and particularly relates to i such a valve structure that is sensitive and usual suction effects.

Figure 1 is a vertical Vihile this novel structure is obviously adapted to a wide variety of uses, there is here disclosed for purposes of explanation, a selected embodiment of the invention particularly adapted for use in combination with a speed-responsive member controlling the Vmovement-s of the valve. This embodiment is useful in the wood-pulp grinding art as a means of governing the fluid flow and pressure and constitutes an improvenient upon the valve structure so shown in the prior co-pending governor application of the inventor hereof, filed March 29, 1920, under Serial Number 369.604.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and useful valve structure.

Other objects of theinvention will more fully appear from the following description andthe accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings(x there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out theobjects of the invention, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is not confined to the enact features shown, as various Vchanges may be made within the scope of the elaimssvhich follow.

ln the drawings:

sectional view (on the line 1 1 of Figure 2) through the valve structure and associated parts, with the valve in opened position;

Figure 2 is a` vertical and partly sectional view similar, but at right angles, to the view the valve structure in automatic-stop position-g Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure el; and

Figure 6 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of the upper disk edge and seat.

In the form of the invention heredisclosed, there is provided a fluid passage for a supply of fluid, such as water, under pressure, which fluid is controlled by the novel main valve. F urthermore, a by-pass is provided around such main valve and `flow is controlled in 'this by-pass by an additional valve. This by-pass valve is co-operable with the first-mentioned main valve so that, when the main valve is open, the by-pass valve is always closed and, when the main valve is closed, the bypass valve may be opened.

The control of flow through the fluid passage is preferably effected by means of a pair of main valves which is not only statically balanced, i. e. against the pressure of quiet water; but also dynamically balanced. i. e. against the pressure of water flowing; through the pair and over their surfaces. The valves here shown are integral and in the form of a double-disk valve. ln the usual construction of double-disk valves, a relatively broad cone-shaped valve portion is adapted to engage a cone-shaped seat. llllile these cone-shaped valves may be approximately balanced statically, they are not balanced dynamically and such double-disk valves can not be held in a position wherein they are open only a small amount, frr example, a few hundredths of an inch. without suction effects being set up by the flow of water over the broad flat surfaces. This novel valve structure overcomes such disadvantages.

The fluid passage here disclosed is provided by what may be termed the inlet T and discharged 8 formed by the casting S). rlhis casting is also formed with a substantially central wall 11 which directs the water, supplied under pressure to the inlet T. above and below the wall through the similar passages l2. The novel main valves are interposed between the upper and lower passages 12 and the substantially annular waterway 13 communicating with the discharge S.

rl'he main valvcs are preferably of the double-disk type and the two valve seats therefor are provided by a housingl formed of the upper member lll and the loiver split member 15. These members are tightly fitted incentral openings formed in the upper and lower portions of the casting forming the annular waterway 13. The major portions ot' the annular sides of these two valve-seat. members are cut a ay vleaving;` onlythe connecting webs 16. rlhe lower split member is provided, atfits upper end, with an inwardly projectin annulartlange 17 which, on its under tace, presents. a relativelybroad l'lat surface which functions as the .seat for the lower valve disk 18.

rlhe upper member 14 Vis Vformed ,at its middle portion withv an inwardly projecting annular flange 19 which has an annular downwardly projecting,terminal portion 21 presenting' a relatively buie-.d 'fiat annulaisurl'ace which functions asthe valve seat furthe upper valve d The upper portion ot the upper member 1l lis 'formed ,with a substantially dome-shaj'ied extenf` on 9.3 which extends through `the main casting; intova chambei i and terminally provides a narrow surface `which functions as a seat for an vauriliary valve which may be. here termed the automatic stop valve.

This upper member 111 is integrally formed with a centr-al recessed bearingl 26 for the reduced portionQT of themain valve stem which is slidably mounted therein. This stem guides the movements not only of the main doubledisk valve, buty also 'of the automatic stop valve.

The automatic stopvalveicomprises a flat Y disk 28 carried on a stem 29 sli'dably borne .portion 38 above the portion in the bearing 26. rl'he disk 28 is normally @downwardly .pressed against its seat by The means of the compression spring;l 31.

`lower endoie this spring rest-supon the diss Q8 while its upper end is held r {ainstrthe opposed inner tace oi the castingiZ which 'encloses the chamber 24 which opens Iinto the discharge 8. The spring` ishel'd in position by means of a boss adapted to project within the coils ofthe spring ,531. As here shown, the double disk valves 18 Aand 22 are inter/rally formed and provided with an axial sleeve Bel having alon.L Yidinal bore through which the enlarged portion of the main valve stem passes. The main valve is thus loosely carried by the main valve stem. A collar 36 is formed on the stein and a compression spring` 37 is heldbetween the upper tace of thecollar and the under tace oit the lower valve dinl so that the double disk valves arethereby tensionably held upwardly toward the closed seated position. yThe main valve stem has a threaded This threaded portion is vot less diaine* than the enlarged portionfl. sotliat a was r S9 may be seated against the resultant shoulder `and heldin such position by means or the nut lll. Thusin the normal operating po'sitiojii as shown in lligures land 2, thefdouble, dfsl; valve is teusionably j breseledagainst th'ecollar '39h51 means 'of the compression spring 37. Thurs, downward movement of the main valve st em causes the washer 39 to engage the double disk valves to move the two disks to downwardopen position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Normal upward movement of the main stein eltects seating` ot both disks under vtensionof the coinpression spring` il?. Further upward movement. of the main valve stem, produced by springs T0 and 7.6 after seatingof the main valve., causes the upper end of the such stenrto engage and upwardly inove the valve stem 29 of the automatic stop valve 28, whereby the valve Q8 is moved to open position as shown vin Figure d and permits full flow water through the thiid passage.

.The double `disks 18 and h3 of the ymain valve are vstatic-ally balanced by makingftv1 ein or uniform seating or contact-maldini' d' ter, butin addition thereto. these dits are dyi'iamically balanced. rthis is ei'i'ected by providing both disks-with slopingV or rounded edges'leadingyto avery narrow 'face or sharp edge at the point ot discharge. The term sharp elge ashere used to describe the seat-engaging; Aportions of the double disk valve, yis delined as signi-'ying` `a tace which substantially does not lexceed onethirty second (g1g) ot an inch. in width.. This is lapprorimately lthe width of the sharp edge used in the construction ot what is known in hydraulics as a sharp-crested weir. The. sheet of waterflowing between the valve seat andthe sharp enge of the valve is contracted at the entrance. The contact-maliing` face or edge or" the valve is so narrow that thesheet of water passes it in contracted form and doesnot touch thevnarrow contactmalring face at all. Thereforehwear on the valve is minimized. .Further-more. as is shown inthe enlarged view in Figure the annular entrance and discl'iarge sides of each valve adjacent its sharp edge are inclined toward the seats. This inclined or rounded approach causes the fluid gradually to `be accelerated to the point ot' discharge, and the sharp edge vor narrow face overcoi'nes the usual suction effects, such aS Eare produced by water flowing over a broad dat surface. Such suction effects are disadvautageous in that'they imbalance valves dynan'iically, even though such valves are .f.tatic"all ,fY balanced.

For example, when it is desired to maintain the usual type of valve in a position wherein the valve is open a space of only a few hundredths of an incluthe suction cl"- feets produced bythe flowing water cause unbalancing of the valve and movement from the desired-position. l

ln the `specific structure'here disclosed. valve'stem moienient is` controlled by el* means straining; to moveV the stem upw ly and by another means straining-Ito 1? Y the` ster-n downwardly. "The upwardly straining rmeans is here shown several llO impellcr.

springs7 while the downward straining is exerted by means ot a speedresponsive mechanism. Such a speed-responsive mechanism is here shown as being of the centrifugal pump impeller type, the rotation of which is directly responsive to the speed of rotation ol aV turbo-grinder, to which the iluid discharged through this valve structure is supplied. This impeller functions to buildup tluid pressure on one side oit' a partitioncd chamber. The pressure is variable in proportion to the speed of rotation ot the The valve stem is connected to suoli partition and tl e fluid pressure strains to-move the partition and valve stem downwardly against the oppositely exerted torce of the spring.

The pressure chamber is formed by the casting 42 to which the casting 9 ot the fluid passage is secured by the bolts 43. The sides oi the chamber casting 42 are down .vardly inclined and terminate in an annular flange 44. A. rubber diaphragm 45 ein tends completely across the lower side of the pressure chamber and is marginally secured between the annular flange 44 and a ring' 46 which flange and ring are securely bolted to` gethen A depending yoke 47 is held by bolts passing through the flange 44, the diaphragm 45 and the ring 46. The flange 44 is provided with integral 'extensions to which sauniorting` legs 4S are bolted and by which legs the structure is supported upon a suitable foundation 49.

The chamber casting 42 is provided with central depending boss 5l which is apen tured slidably to receive the bearing portion 52 ot the valve stem. this bearing portion being preferably slightly greater in diameter than. the enlarged portion 85' of this same stem. This boss 5l is downwardly counterbored to provide an enlarged recess wherein is positioned sott, porous packing 54, such as felt washers, partly filling this recess and constituting` a novel form of gland construction. The lower end of this boss is upwardly counterbored to provide a recess tor the bushing This packing 54 is not compressed in the usual way but, nevertheless, prevents the fluid from flowing through the clearance space between the moving valve stem portion 52 and the hushing at high velocity and thus minimizes the veaion these parts while, at the same time. practically eliminating the friction caused by the ordinary gland construction. lt should also be not-ed. that the sott porous packing 54 permits the escape of water therepast, but prevents the passage ot ne grit or small particles of sand, dirt. or similar impurities which not only would result in trictional loss but also in added excessive wear of the parts.

A small diskY 56 is positioned upon the upper tace of the diaphragm, while the larger disk 57 is positioned against the under face ot the diaphragm, and the valve stem extends through both disks and the intermediate diaphragm. The lower end ot' the. valve stem is threaded and bears thereon a nut 5S, whereby the two disks and included diaphragm are held together and against the downwardly presented shoulder o9 of the valve stem. The central portion of the under side ot the large diaphragm disk 5T is formed with a boss (il which rests upon the resiliently held springe` seat 62 in the operating position shown in ligures l and 2. This seat is under spring tension to re sistA .downward movement ot the main stem as will hereafter be described.

The pressure chamber 63 is, filled with a tluid such as water, the pressure ot which is caused to vary in proportion to the speed ot rotation ot' the impeller. This impeller is provided with a housing 64 which upwardly provides a water reservoir. This housing is bolted to the casting 42. The im peller is provided with a stem (A35 rotatably mounted in the housing 50 and having snitably packed bearings to prevent escape ot water. The stem carries a disk 66 bearing radially projecting vanos G7. An annular' way, within which the disk and vanes rotate, provided by the integral casting portion GS. A peripheral end portion ot' the way is provided with an annular passage 69 which communicates with a port 7l leading to the pressure chamber. The function of this ini-- peller is to create pressure. There is merely an intermittent slight flow produced by the impellcr as the diaphragm 45 moves up and down in response to pressure variations in the chamber 63. Suitable gearing, carried in the gear box 72 functions to rotate the impeller shaft G5 upon rotation of the gear 73. T he upper portion of the impeller housing is provided with an integral extension 74 to which is bolted the third supporting leg 75 ot this novel structure. The lower portion o1c the impeller housing is provided with a depending portion affording a guide bearing and lubricating mechanism for the impeller shaft G5.

The novel form oli spring device. here shown, is suliistantially that shown and disclosed in the prior application ot the inventor hereof. tiled VDecemlur Ill. i920. fdcrial lunil'ier 430,382.

The nut 58, secured to the main valve stem, is engaged by a` springsea t (it) upwardly held thereagainst under constant tension of the spring 70 held between the under side of the spring-seat 60 and the base 8l oll the spring housing which in turn is borne by the threaded stem S2 received in adjustable threaded engagement in the central boss 83 provided by the yoke 4'?. The threaded stem S2 bears a hand-wheel 84 by means ot' which the tension of the spring device may lie adjusted. The inain Valve stein is th*l under constant tension upwardly tending to incre the stein in opposition to any down- Vwir Vtending diaphragm pressure.

The spring-seat- (52 is niounted upon the upper portion ot a. compression spring it which is in turn su ported hy iiieans oi the hanger'il ha\fing, adjacent its upper end, an outwardly 'flaring flange T8 supported by the relatively sotter'hiit `initially compressed spring 79 positioned upon the hase 8l of the spring housing. This outer spring 79 is initially compressed and constrained by rotating the spring coter Se with relation lo the hase 8l. als the cover and hase are in threaded engagement, the coi'er niay thereliy he downwardly drawn whereby the hanger f8 is depressed by the cover to constrain the spring Z9 against the upper Aace of the base 8l.

'lhis novel spring construction is such that thelarger the downward pressure on the diaphragm heconies, the greater will becoine the rate ot deflection or the spring;

' that'is, equal load increnients produce greater detlect-ion increments ahore aV given load. It will be noted that the outer spring 79 is constrained after being given a desired aniountr otinitial compression or load, while the inner springs TOAand i6 Iare suhstantiallyiree. rliliis is, in substance, a` twostage spring. rlher initial rate oi deflection is determined hy the characteristics of the inner or ji'ree springs 70 and T6. rlhe second stage or increased rate of deflection loegins at the point where the total load on the spring 76 equals the initial compression or load on the outer spring 79. rl'he iinal rate oi deliection is determined by the characteristics oi3 the three springs acting' to.- gether.

lurine noriiial operation with pressure in the clianilier 63, the diaphragm niay occupy a position such as that shown in Figure l, wherein the diaphragm lower disk 57 downwardly forces the spring-seat 62 against the tension of' the spring T6. Suchl y downward diaphragm nioveinent also downwardly forces the niain Valve stein, and the nut il and collar S9 positively and downwardly nieve the double disk valve to an open position corresponding to the pressure in the chaniher G3. llllien the downward pressure or diaphragm load exceeds lan adjustahly Apredeterinined amount, the springseat 69, enters the second stage andinas the increased rate ot deflection. lllllien such second stage is entered7 the double disk valve is lforced open a greater `distancetor equal load increments. @n the other hand, when the pressure in the chanilier 63 drops, the niain .valve stein is forced upwardly ai" a relatively rapid rate during the second stage and thereafter nieves relativelyk niore slowly duringthe ,lirst stage. The double disk vali-ie, during these two stages, iiioves with the niain valve stein as the valve is tensionably held against the colla-r 39 by the coil spring lil/Then the double disk Valve reaches closed position, the niain .jalve stein niay orertraif'eh upon *further pressure drop in the chamber G3. Sneh'oif'eitravel of the niain vali/e stein is shown in Figure 4, wherein the lower diaphrae'ni disk 57 has been raised above the spring-seat 62 Vuntil the upper diaphragm disk 5G abuts against the hess 5l or the chaniher casting 42. ln reaching such position the spring up- Y*ardly nieves the niain valve stein, terniinelly to enge-ge the stein 29 oli the auxiliary or autoin tic stop-valve 28, whereby 'the valve Q8 is opened and the iluid niay freely llow through the lay-pass to the discharge S.

l claini as niy invention:

l. A valve structure including a fluid passage, a niain valve adapted to close the passage, a lay-pass around said inain valve, a id valve to close the hy-pa s, and controlling nieans to nieve the in An valve to open and closed position and adaptecl,iipon further nioyenient after closure of the iiiain valve, to open the lijf-pass Valve.

2. A valve structure including a fluid passage, a valve stein iiiovahly mounted in said structure, a niain valve adapted to close the passage, means to nionnt the iiiain valve on the stein whereby the valve niay be nioved by thesteni to open and closed position, said means being adapted resiliently to perniit overtraiyel vof the stein after closure of the niain valve, a lay-pass around said niain Valve, a valve to close the lay-pass, and said by-pass valve being arranged to he moved to open position upon said orertravel oic the niain Value stein.

3. A Valve structure including,- a fluid passage, a Valve stein nioiahly inounted in said structure, a inain valve slidalily niounted on the stein and adapted to close the pas. sage, an ahutnient on the stein, resilient nieans to hold the valve againstthe ahntnient, whereby the 1valve niay he inored hy the stein to open and closed position and the ste-ni thereby perniitted to overtravel after closure of the niain valve, a ley-pass aro-und the niain Valve. a valve to close the liv-pass, and said lay-pass i' lce heing arranged to he inoved to open posifu on upon said overtravel oi" the niain valve stein.

1l. A valve structure iueluding a fluid passage, yalre seats therein, a statically halanced niain valve to engage said seats, a lifpass aro-und said seats, a Valve to close the 1oy-pass, and nieans to open and close the balanced inain valise, said nieans being at apted, upon further inoveinent after closure of the balanced valve, to open the bypass valve.

5. A valve structure includingl a iluid passage, av walliethepassage having. two oplposed openings therethrough, a Valve seat around each opening, a stein extending' through both openings, a statically balanced valve slidabljr mounted on the stem and adapted resilientlj,7 to seat upon the valve seats, means to more the stein to open and elose the balanced Valve, a 1lay-pass in said passage, a valve to open and close the bypass, means normally holding the ley-pass valve in closed position, and means adapted, upon further movement of said stem after closure of the balanced main valve, to cause opening of the by-pass valve.

6. A valve structure including a fluid pas" sage, valves to close the passage, means yieldably to hold the valves in passage-closing position, pressure means operably oonnected to the valves and adapted to open the passage upon pressure increase above a predetermined point, and means adapted upon failure of said pressure to open said passage.

7. A valve structure includinga fluid passage, a plurality of valve seats in said passage, valves co-operable with said seats, means yieldablj,7 to hold the valves in seated passage-closing position, pressure means operably Connected to the Valves and adapted to open the passage upon pressure increase above a predetermined point, and means adapted upon failure of said pressure to open said passage.

8. A valve structure including a Huid pa,l sage, valves to close the passage, means yiem ably to hold the valves in pass-age-elosingg v position, means connected to the Valves and operable by fluid pressure to open the passage substantially proprntionateljY to increase oi pressure, and means operable, upon failure of said pressure, freely to open said passage.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of June, 1921.

ADOLPH F. MEYER. 

